Janice Audeau says most pharmacists dread the idea of working in a community pharmacy upon graduation.
Not her.
Helping people not only get their prescription filled, but to know everything they need to about the medications they are taking, is right up her alley.
The commitment to personally assisting others helped Audeau’s business, Health and Performance Pharmacy, win the Customer Service Award at the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards Gala at the civic centre in Corner Brook Wednesday night.
It was just one of three awards won by Audeau and the business, which she co-owns with Ashley and Heather Buckle. The other two included the Online Presence Award for the business itself and Audeau being named Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
“Just knowing people felt like they got something out of their interaction with me that would make them want to nominate me is so important to me,” said Audeau. “My goal as a pharmacist is to focus on the person. They aren’t just a number. They’re the person who has to go home and take that medication.”
A Corner Brook native, the former Janice Coleman made the leap to go into business with the Buckles, who own the Health and Performance Centre where the pharmacy is located, one year ago.
Audeau had no idea she would win any, let alone three awards when she went to Wednesday’s gala. She’s even more glad now to have made the decision to become an independent pharmacist.
“Working in an extremely busy environment wasn’t allowing me to spend the time with people I felt I really needed to be spending,” said the graduate of Memorial University’s pharmacy program. “I took a chance and it has paid off. So far, so good.”
Here is a list of all this winners at the 2018 Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards Gala:
There were four special awards sponsored by the Association of New Canadians, which has a new chapter in Corner Brook, presented during the gala as part of its celebration of Small Business Week. They included:
- The Bridget Foster Cultural Icon Award, presented to a newcomer entrepreneur or a business that serves newcomers: Newfound Sushi (Corner Brook)
- The Gus Dalton Community Hero Award for exemplifying outstanding voluntary service to help welcome newcomers to a community: Sheldon Peddle (Corner Brook)
- The Diversity Boss Award to an employer or manager dedicated to recruiting and retaining underrepresented groups: Deirdre Ayre, Other Ocean (St. John’s)
- The Hospitality NL International Ambassador Award: Homeport Apartment Hotel (St. John’s)
The local business awards:
- Beautification Award: Veitch Wellness Centre
- Customer Service Award: Health and Performance Pharmacy
- Rising Star Award: Western Pet Supply
- Online Presence Award: Health and Performance Pharmacy
- Community Impact Award: Veitch Wellness Centre
- Business of the Year: Rugged Edge
- Youth Business of the Year: Bootleg Brew Co.
- Female Entrepreneur of the Year: Janice Audeau
- Qalipu Business of the Year: Digital Advertising Solutions
- Student of the Year (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University): Nicolas White
- Student of the Year (College of the North Atlantic): Devon Pardy
- Legacy Award: Walter Fleming
